Photo by Flickr user Tara Wohlgemuth
Riders on the Greenline
As we published in the Memphis Flyer this week, the Bikesmith in the Broad Avenue Arts District celebrates its opening this Sunday with food, beer, and a raffle giveaway for a children’s bike. The dark brown truck, known for driving to the ends of the area to fix bikes, will now have a permanent place to park in a brick-and-mortar shop dedicated to repairing, selling, and talking about bikes.
We see more of these bike-centric businesses and organizations growing in Memphis, so just for fun, here are some statistics about riding in the city.
- Since 2008, the number of bicycle commuters in Memphis has been steadily rising. According to the State of Bicycling in 2014, it is estimated that about 5,000 trips are made each day by bicycle in the city.
- The Wolf River Greenway, one of the most-used walking and biking paths in Memphis, has over 1,200 users every Saturday and Sunday. Throughout the week, the number averages around 500.
- Since 2010, more than 71 miles of bike lanes have been constructed in the city.
- There are more than 10 bicycling clubs in the Memphis area, all dedicated to riding bikes, racing, or just talking about wheeling it.
- The Wolf River Greenway is ever-expanding, and its next meeting is actually about expansion into the Lucius Burch State Natural Area.
It may be getting colder outside, but it’s never too late to get up on that saddle. (And, as the saying goes, you never forget how to ride, right?)
